A Visalia Kmart employee was stabbed multiple times in the neck and now detectives are trying to piece the puzzle together.

Police were called right after the employee was stabbed in the neck. Officers rushed to the scene while employees gave dispatchers a description of the attacker, later identified as 43-year-old Jeremy Kechloian.

Police surrounded the store and found a man in the back of the retailer, which shares a parking lot with SaveMart.

While Kechloian was being questioned by Visalia detectives, he assaulted the arresting officers.

The officer suffered a minor injury, DeJong said.

Jeremy Kechloian(Photo: Visalia Police Department)

Witnesses say the employee may have tried to stop Kechloian from stealing items when the suspect stabbed him.

Visalia Sgt. Gerrit DeJong said details were still coming in as to what may have provoked the assailant.

A bloody trail leads from the front of the store to the parking lot.

DeJong added that employees reported that Kechloian was acting "erratically" in the store before lunging for the employee's neck. Police are investigating if drugs or alcohol may have led to the violent altercation.

It's also not clear what Kechloian used to stab the employee. Some witnesses described the object as keys, while others said the man used a knife.

The Violent Crimes Unit spent hours processing the evidence along with crime scene technicians. Clues and photos were collected inside and outside of the store. At least four crime scene investigators helped detectives.

A store security guard was stationed outside informing customers that the store would close until further notice.

On Thursday, managers cleaned bloodstains on the cement in front of the store.

Although they couldn't comment on the incident they said it's business, as usual, today and the store is open.

Kmart corporate officials said they couldn't comment on the incident and referred questions to Visalia Police Department.

Kechloian was booked into the Tulare County Pretrial Facility on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a peace officer.

Crime scene technicians are on scene at Kmart in Visalia.(Photo: Ron Holman)